Variation-indicator for automatic musical instruments.



PATBNTED SEPT. 4, 19`06.

No. 830,302.v

M.1-CLARK. l rVARIATION mmoAToFoR AUTOMATIC MUSIGAMNSTRUMBNTS.

APPLICATION FILEDJULY 13, 1903,.

PATENT'ED SEPT. 4,1906.

M. CLARK. VARIATION-INDICATOR FOR AUTQMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLIOATIN PILEDULY 13, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No'. 830.302. PATENTED SEPT. 4,1906.-

" M. CLARK.

VARIATION INDICATOR POR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLIUATION FILED JILY 1a, 1903.

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' STATES PATENT' OFFICE."

g MELVILLECLARK oF'oH'ioAGo, iLLiNois. f VARIATION-INDICATOR Fon AUTOMATIC MUSICAL iNsrRuMENTs.

Specification of Letters.' lPatent.

Patented'Sept. 4, 1906.

Application filed July 13,1903.` Serial No. 165:245.

To (LZZ citent-it 77mg/ concern,.- y' l Be it known that I, MELviLLn CLARK, a-

'c-itizen of the United States, residing at Chi- '-cago,1nthe county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improve- :ments i-nVariation-Indicators for Automatic Musical Instruments, vof which the following 1s a specicatiomgr'eference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming. a part thereof.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a simple means by which the operator upon an automatic musical instrument or -mechanical Player may be guidedin his Operation of the parts under his control for regulat- I ing theA speed and intensity of the playing.

i It consists i-n the features of" construction i. set out in the claim'.

In the drawings,'Figure 1- isa front elevation of a portion of a piano-playerembodying my invention, portions vof the case being 'brokenaway to disclose theinterior struc- V ture, Fig. 2 is a section at the line 2 2 on Fig. 1. Fig Sis a detail top plaii'vieW with aportion of the case broken away. Fig. ,4 comprises plan views of corresponding por- .'tions of two perforated sheets with indication-lines at diHerent-positions relative to the perforations. `AFig. 5 is a similar plan of a portion .ofl such a sheet having amodified f ormvof indication-marks. Fig. 6 is asimilar .View showing a furtlier'modification in re- -spect to the indication-marks.

- In the drawings thereare shown the customaryand familiar-parts of an automatic player for keyed instruments, commonly called a lpiano-player, comprising the two rolls 1 and -2 lfor carrying the perforated sheet 3, which is Wound upontheni, the casing 4, which incloses the mechanism by 4which the rolls are operated mechanically, and the mechanism by whici\pneuinatic action which is controlled by the perforated sheet is produced. I have shown in the drawings a portion of the motor for actuating the rolls having a rock-shaft 5, prov1ded with an 1ndex-finger 6, oscillating in front of a graduated segment-dial 7, which is customarily present in certain types of. players, the rockshaftfbeing connected with the mechanism for driving the rolls 1 and 2, its connection being such that the rocking. of the shaft to carry the. index-iin ger back and forth over thedial operates governing devices for controlling the spec d of the motorgfand thereby regulating the tempo or rate ofl performance of the music.

Since the particular motor mechanism forms no part of my'in-vention, it is'not illustrated.

in detail, but only shown in general features as comprising a train (represented by Wheels 8 8a. Sb-Sc (for driving the chucks 9 9,in whichl in Figs. 1 and 2, and it may have an extenlsion 13b above the position at which the button is shown, and which extension when present may be projected up over the roll 1 and be extended rearward to overhang the perforated sheet and terminate directly above the tracker-range 14. To the rock-shaft 5 there is secured a lever-arm 15, which operates against an abutment 16, projecting from the traveler 12, so that as the rock-shaft 5 is rocked by the handle 17, attached to it'for that purpose, the rocking movement Yby which the index-finger 6 is carried over'to the right will push the indicator-finger 13 to the left., A spring 19 is connected to the traveler to retract it, and thus the rocking of the shaft in the opposite direction Will permit said indicator-finger to return to the right.

On the perforated sheet 3 there is imprinted in one form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 3 a serpentine ,or zigzag line 18, the course of which to tilgiie right or left of an imaginary line parallel with t-helateral edge of the paper `midway in the zone or limited portion of said width Within which the serpentine or zigzag line lies is intended to indicate the speed at which the music should be played at the various points in the length of the perforated roll corresponding to the different points in that zigzag line. The op- /eratorwill control the speed by rocking the shaft 5 by means ofits handle 17, and by so governing his operation ofsaid handle as to ,loo

keep the indicator-finger 13 in position right or left in its slot, corresponding to the'point' of the zigzag line which is over the tracker. range, he will be able to regulate the speed with nicety, according tothe intention of the arranger of the perforated sheet, who, it will be understood, delineates the zigzag line with intention to indicate the speed of the various partsof the music in this manner.

' minal finger 22 or t the exhaustion of 'The' extended portion of'- i i i i i the bar is denoted 11a, and it will be understood that it is not necessarily integralwith the bar 11. traveler 12 and corresponds to a zigzag or sinuous line 21 on the perforated Aroll 3, Fig. -1,) vits lateralA deflections -or sinuosities being coniined lto a limitedzone or longitudinal strip at the left-hand portion of the perforatedfroll, over or opposite which theterbutton Z3 of the traveler 2() may oscillate rwithin the rangeof a slot in the casing through which the traveler 2O protrudesiv Alight spring 24, connected to the traveler 20, tends .tohold i't at ythe lefthand limitof itsv oscillation. cord or cable Z5 is attached to the traveler and extends about guide-pulleys 26 26 Z6 26 to the fluctuating side 29 of the bellows 218, which operates the pneumatic devicesfor causing the play-ing action of the instrument. ,lt will be understood that in such an instrument or player `theforce ofthe .stroke by which the keys are actuated andfthe, consequent intensity or loudness of the tone,v produced varies according to the degree of exhaustion or evacuation of the bellows, and the bellows being held. normally expanded by a spring and air .therefrom loperating to compress the spring according to the degree of exhaustion and consequent collapse of the bellows the greater such collapse the louder the tone produced, and the connections described, from the moving wall of the bellowsA tov the traveler 20, it will y be observed, are `such that at the `position of greatest inflationthat is, at the normal position of rest of the iiuctuating wall, of the bellows-4 the 'finger or button of the traveler will st and att-he extreme left-hand end of the slot and opposite or overhanging the left-hand margin of the paper and ,that at the position of greatest exhaustion of the-bellows said'finger i will stand at the right-hand limitjof its slot and of what may be c alled the Hegip'ression zone of the controlling-sheetthat is, the longitudinal-istrip or portion VAof the area of said sheet within which the sinuous or zigzag or expression line Zl'is contained. rThe' operator controlling the intensity of toneby the ,rapidity Vwith which he operates the bellows pedals may govern the expression correctlyaccording to the expression-line by so pumping as to keep the indicator-finger at all times coinciding with such line at the point thereof at which it crosses the tracker-range.

,(see,

The traveler '2O is similar to the i i i i i i i i *y ltwill beinanifest that...\`\'ithout departii'ig invention the ex- :indll oi tht` tcn'ipo `and being fronithc. substance rof the `tension terininatfingers i3," travelers,which pertain Ito the expression indicators', A lcsplrtiviiii.' omitted, the tempo :ind c\pro.\ idii 1 ger should bc'kept inorder to rect tempo and expression."-

the perforated sheet may be so placed with respect to the sound-controlling perforations that any given point on the tempo or expressionline immediately opposite the tempo or expression button will correspond to the transverse line lin the sheet which is at,the same time on the ltracker-range so that the operator may keep the button directl'y on the tempo or expression line-that is, registered with the point `in the line which is passing the tracker-range. lt would not be possible to discover in any given instance merely by 'the eye whether the expression-line were applic so as to be read, so to speak, at the trackerrange or so as to be read at the bottom; but

forthe purpose of illustrating the two modes l havell shown in Fig. 4 a'short section of the having the line in one other in the other.

Instead of the zigzagor sinuo'us lines there may be employed for indicating the proper expressionand tempo at dierent parts in the length of tlie controlling-sheet in each instance-that is, for both expression and speed indication-a series of parallel lines extending longitudinally on the sheet, whose ,distance inward from the margin or from any selected base-line may correspond to the different degrees of speed and intensity, respec-l tively.

position and the ling-sheet lin'es marked-withfthe customary words for denoting different speeds from slowest to fastest-to wit, Andante` Moderato, Allegro, Adagio, Presto-and at the left-hand side of the sheet a series of lines. marked with the customary words indicatingk degrees of intensity or loudness--to wit, commencing at the left nearest the margin of the A,

A Fortissi-` points in the length of the controll tempo or expression '95 Thus, for example, 1n Flg. 5 there are y shown at the right-hand side of the controlthe line thus marked at the point th'usmarlred and should stay on that line until some other indication isv given. At an1 point at which the speed or `expression should change a mark may be' placed upon the line trending obliquely toward theline corresponding to the tempo or expression to which the change should be made, and on such other line at the iointfat which-the tempo orexprossion indicated by that line should be attained there. is placed a star or cross-line. l The operator. will thus be able-without the zigzag line toA understand at what point the indicator-'iinobtain the cor- 'l`here ina)Y with i zulvantzigcnlso be placed in .the inni-gin ofthe shoot the words which in lilies oli g :rv bo considered the naines 'ofy the several lines indicating as follows: -For expression, E PP, F, FF

*and S ALD MO-d': P1277, las. .Seen on lgs- 4i 51 and 6# lAIIOUlleIquite' convenient mode ofV marking the controllingsheet to afford guidance to the operatorin respect to expression and' speed is represented in Fig. 6, wherein the parallel lines above described are broken or interrupted at the point at 'Which the expression should change. When the'change is abrupt, as from one speed to another, the line indicatin the prior speed terminates and the line in icating the speed to 1 which the change', ismade commences at the same transverse line. When the change is gradual fort-he effect of k'acceleration or retard, a longitudinal interval Wouldintervene' between the termination of one line and the commencement of the other. In this form of marking it is convenient also to apply the customary Wordsor characters denoting the different speeds and intensities either at the termination, or break in the line or op osite that point in the margin. In these di erent forms of ap )lying the lines to the controllingvsheet to guide the operator in respect to expression and speed the star or other mark on the parallel lines, the Word-or sign either on the lines or in the margin, or the mere abru t terminations and commencements of tfie lines, respectively, constitute indications of speed and expression, and I do not limit myself to `any one of tliesespeciiically, though I prefer to employ the interrupted lines'last above described with marginal Words or abbreviations corresponding to the various speeds and expressions Idenoted by the lines, placing such marginal markings opposite the breaks in the lines as above described.

1. In an automatic musical instrument or player, in combina-tion' with the traveling controlling-sheet, a motor for actuating it in-A dependent of the means controlled by the sheet for playing the instrument; a horizontal bar extending transversely with respect to the travel of the sheet at the forward side; a

traveler mounted on suoli bar having an indicator-finger extending up in front of the sheet -in proximity thereto; a rock-shaft by which the speed of the motor is regulated at will; a

lever-arm on said rock-shaft, andlink connec- `tions from' said lever-arm to the traveler to voscillate the latter as the shaft-is rocked.

2. In ana-utoniatic musical instrumentor playerliaving 'a controlling-slieet for the play- 'with respect to ythe travel .of the slieetin proximity thereto, and `connections from said source of energy for oscillating the indicator as the degree of energyyaries, the controlling- `ingin Width to the -indicaton ber varies.

-sl'ieot having expression indici'itions disposed `at positions varying laterally within a longitudinal strip or zone of said sheet correspond- 3; In an automatic musical instrument or an indicator mounted for oscillation"trans-4 versely with respect to the travel of the sheet said source of energy for-oscillating sai'diiidiraugeof oscillation of the.

layer having a' traveling controlling-sheetl or governingtheplaying devices, a source of -energy which is directed by said sheetfor'con--- 'in proximity thereto, l:and connections 'froml ca tor as the degree of energy varies, the'sheet having expression indications disposed at psitions varying late-rally within a longitudinal-i strip or Zone of the slieet'corresponding in dicator mounted for oscillation transversely With respect to the travel lof the controllingsheet directly in front of the latter, and connections from said air-chamber for oscillating the indicator as the -air tension in said chain'- 5. In an automatic musical instrument or player having a traveling controllingsheet for governing the playing devices, an exhaust-bellows by Which said devices are operated; an' indicator mounted for oscillation transversely with respect to the travel of the sheetI in proximity thereto, and connections from the moving ivall of the cxliaust-lwllows for oscillating the indicatontlie controllingsheet having expression indications disposed at positions varying laterally within a longitudinal strip or zone of the slicet corresponding in width to the ronge of oscillation ot the i indicator.v

6. In an automatic musical instrument or player. having a. controlling-sheet for governtlie playing devices are operati-dean indi-- cator mounted vfor oscillation transversely with respect tov thc travel of ,the sli-ect in.

ing in width to tlie range ol' oscillation ot' the 4player having n co'nt rolling-sheet for the playing devices, a source of cnei'gvdirected by such sheet for controlling the playing: :in indicator mounted for osi-ill'zitii-m transversely wit li respect to the tra-vel of the slicct in prox- EOS -IIO

ing the playing devices, a bellows by which &

imity thereto, and connections li'oin such source of energy for oscillating the indicator as the degree of energ)1 Varies, the controllingsheet lia-ving a plurality of parallel longitudinal lines disposed at lateral intervals Within a longitudinal strip or ,zone of said sheet corresponding in position and Width to the posi tion and range of oscillation of the indicator.

8. In mechanic-all piano-players and organs, the operative combination of the actuating force or exhaust-bellows, the music-'roll or tune sheet, the ordinary expression -line thereon, and aifsiiidicator suitably connected to the movable leaf or side of said bellows, said indicator being positioned nearto and intermediate of the width of the niusic-roll or tune-sheet, and moving by reason of said connection to and movement of the movable leaf as described, thereby indicating the degree of pressure or exhaust acquired and required and being capable of use in the nianner'and for the purpose described. I v

9. In mechanical piano-players and organs, the combination with the actuating mechanisin and 'the tune-sheet provided with the eX.-

connectod to the said actuating mechanism pression-line described and shown, oi' an index l and caused, by reason ot' such connection, to

iiiove and traverse in front of the music-roll or tuiie-slieetin the manner and for the purpose described. In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand,in the presence of' two witnesses, at Chicago, Illinois, this ist da \Y of July, 1903. MELVILLE CLARK. 

